By: Antonette Mae C.

Rabuya

GRADING
RETAINING WALLS, TOPOGRAPHY, SURVEY
GRADING
The process of modification of existing landform to accommodate new structures, parking and
circulation and to ensure positive drainage. Consideration must be given to utilities such as: water,
gas, power, communication services, and sewerage for disposal of wastewater, and storm water.

GRADING PROCESS
Requires a careful change of contours so that they support the integration of building with the site.
THREE PRINCIPAL GOALS IN DEVELOPMENT OF A
RADING PLAN ARE:

Keep unwanted water from entering a

building.
Keep surface run off from creating
damage to property or people during
periods of heavy rainfall and subsequent
runoff.
To accommodate the structure on site
with disturbing the site to minimum.
DETERMINING
SLOPE
Grading is determining and
communicating a slope
equation.

Slope = Rise / Run

 Gradient refers to the changing elevation
along the Earth's surface or the rate of the
slope.

It is expressed in % or ratio or degrees. – 1%

slope = 100:1 – 10% slope = 10:1 =

Percentage of slope is expressed as the

number of meters (feet) rise in 100 m (100 ft)
of horizontal distance, typically referred to as
rise/run.
WHERE D=VERTICAL RISE
MM (FT) L=HORIZONTAL DISTANCE • f the slope rises 2 m (2 ft) in 100 m (100 ft), it
MM (FT) G = GRADIENT % is considered a 2 percent slope. The percentage
of slope can be calculated by the following
formula:
COMMON PERCENTAGES AND
RATIONS WHILE GRADING

0%: Doesn’t drain. Areas 0.5%: Drains flat concrete, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%: Drains
with a contained material, commonly used for ball play grass, other soft surfaces, or
such as mulch or sand in a surfaces. aggregates. Over 5% (1:20)
playground, need usually denotes when a
subsurface drainage at one 1%: Drains asphalt, other walkway is considered a
of the following grades. hard surfaces. ramp and needs landings.
 10% – 33% (10:1 – 3:1):
Common slopes for soft
8.333% (12:1): Common
areas, grass/planting.
max slope for walking/chair
ramps with landings.
33% (3:1): Typically max
slope for mowed grass area.
40% – 100% (2.5:1 – 1.1):
Slopes only for vegetated or
otherwise reinforced slopes.
Use caution, and design
according to the slope.
 IMPORTANCE
OF AN ACCURATE GRADING DESIGN

ACCESSIBILITY
Opportunities for universal
access, not just wheelchairs but
also limited mobility or children,
can ensure the longevity of a
design.
DRAINAGE
Positive flow and no pooling
(unless desired)
INTEREST AND AESTHETIC
Flat park vs rolling hills

SAFETY LOSS IN PROFITS

Impact of ice on a design and Extras for mistakes or impossible
planning for accidental falls plans
LEVELS AND SLOPES THINGS TO NOTE
Levels must be established early in design
process, especially the minimum platform
level.
1:2 earth slope
Max 1:8.3 gradient for driveway
Driveway > Apron > Building first story level
are in 150mm increments by convention

Typically, architects establish the following levels:

1- Outer driveway level
2- Inner driveway level
3- Apron level
4- First storey level
FLOOR LEVELS
SLOPE GRADIENT
RETAINING WALLS
Retaining walls are relatively rigid walls used for supporting soil laterally so that it can be retained
at different levels on the two sides. Retaining walls are structures designed to restrain soil to a
slope that it would not naturally keep to (typically a steep, near-vertical or vertical slope).

They are used to bound soils between two different elevations often in areas of terrain
possessing undesirable slopes or in areas where the landscape needs to be shaped
severely and engineered for more specific purposes like hillside farming or
roadway overpasses. A retaining wall that retains soil on the backside
and water on the frontside is called a seawall or a bulkhead.
TYPES OF RETAINING WALLS
SURVEYING A preliminary
study and The
measurement
acquisition of
documents
The understanding of building
characteristics and their appropriate
graphical documentation, made by
the analysis, selection, synthesis and The restitution with
representation of the architectural The survey interpretative models of
event. The survey is formed by the design reading and communication
succession of the following steps of the architectural heritage
 It helps to prepare a topographical map which

IMPORTANCE
shows the hills, valleys, rivers, villages, towns,
forests, etc. of a country.

OF LAND SURVEYING It helps to prepare a cadastral map showing the

boundaries of the fields, houses and other
properties.

It helps to prepare an engineering map which

shows the details of engineering works such as
roads, railways, reservoirs, irrigation canals, etc.

It helps to prepare a military map showing the

road and railway communications with different
parts of a country.

It helps to prepare a contour map to determine

the capacity of a reservoir and to find the best
possible route for roads, railways, etc.
 REFERENCES
GRADING (EARTHWORKS)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grading_(earthworks)

LANDSCAPE SITE GRADING PRINCIPLES

https://issuu.com/tdgarden/docs/landscape_site_grading_principles

LAND SURVEYING AND ARCHITECTURAL MEASUREMENTS

https://www.ierek.com/news/index.php/2017/06/20/architectural/

UNDERSTANDING SLOPE AND HOW IT IS MEASURED

https://www.engineersupply.com/Understanding-Slope-and-How-it-is-Measured.aspx

RETAINING WALLS 101 - AN INTRODUCTION TO CHOOSING THE RIGHT WALL

https://www.buildingsolutions.com/industry-insights/retaining-walls-101-an-
introduction-to-choosing-the-right-wall